Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-12-29
SAD STORIES.

4Ac AefI MT lEistciS OF the Ikscent Bt1Z-
zar,a in Kansas-An Appalling List OF
Deaths and Permanent Injuries From
Free zins: In the Western ounties.
WICHITA, Kas., Dec, 23.-Additional de-
tails of the results of the recent blizzard
were received to-day which place it as
the worst ever known in the State. The
number of deaths by freezing and starva-
\ tion is now believed to be at least sixty.
Few Eastern residents of the State really
thought such an alarming state of affairs
existed. and they are now nobly respond
ing to calls for aid. P. Pakney. mayor of
Ashland. Clark County, reached this city
Yesterday morning, and from him the
story of the storm in that county was
learned. He said:
When the blizzard struck the Western
settlers last Monday they were in many
Instances entirely out of fuel. Sun ay
was a mild, pleasant day, and no one
seemed prepared for the fearful storm
that followed. About ten O'Clock on Mon
day snow began falling, which soon grew
into blizzard. The wind came from the
North. and the snow soon became blind
ing. 1t was almost impossible for any one
to travel in the storm. Two men named
John Henry and John Golfer, en-routs to
Texas, left Ashland an hour before the
storm began. Their bodies were found
the next day on the prairie, five miles west
of town, frozen stiff. The team which
they had with them was found fully
twenty miles south. The animals had
drifted with the wind, and becoming OK
hausted, sank into the snow and died.
AS soon as the storm ceased rescuing
parties left Ashland. A seed house wa
first entered and pitiful sight met the
gaze of the rescuers. The entire family
OF i've named Kanous, were found frozen
stiff. Some We're sitting bolt upright on
stools while the mother of the family lay
dead in bed No fuel could be found
about the place. The rescung party
gathered the bodies together and brought
them to Ashland, where they were buried.
Bruce c. Freddy, q real estate agent of
Ashland. who had been out in the coun-
try looking at a claim, was found dead
about half mile from the limits of the
town. He had started home before the
storm overlook him, but lost his way and
persisted.
When Mayor Packney left his home
Wednesday no other bodies had been re-
covered. but the town had been turned
into hospital for those who had not been
fatally frozen. A great number had
limbs oxen, which in several cases
necessitated amDutation.
A gentleman from Greeley County gives
even more startling account. Three
men left Horace County, intending to go
to claims a short distance from town.
They wandered around all night, and
finally one of them. Mr.. Gibbs, sank ex-
hausted in the snow. His companions
could not induce him to continue the
tramp in search of shelter, and were COM
peeled to leave him. His body was found
next day. The other mon kept on, and
finally reached a dug-out, where they
gained shelter. Both had their arms,
feet and ears frozen, and can not live.
The same gentleman tells a distressing
story of the death of an emigrant to-
gether with his wife and child. They
went to q rancho just before the blizzard
became serious, and asked to be taken in
and sheltered. The ranchmen refused to
receive them, and after wandering on for
some time the blizzard became so severe
that the horses became unmanageable
and turned the wagon over throwing out
the mother and child. The baby soon
succumbed and the mother died. The
father and husband, covered the bodies
with the wagon box and started out to
find shelter for himself. His hallooing
finally attracted settlers, and the emil
grant was tax an in and warmed, but it
was too late. Both feet were frozen, and
before physician could be summon ed he
died.
A widowed mother living with six
tesn-year-old son and younger daughter
in Comanche County, are dead, but their
names can not now be learned. The son
was sent out by his mother in search of
fuel After waiting for some time for his
return, the mother aud daughter at
tempted to go to the house of their near
est neighbor. All the lost their way in
the binding snow and persisted.
Three deaths are reported from Ford
County, twelve from Mead County and
five from Stevens County, but it is i'm
possible to learn the names, as no direct
communication is possibl with those
counties.
Private dispa tches from Lane, Scott and
Wichita counties give equally horrible
details. Mrs. Riley and her two children
We're frozen to death near Dighton, Lane
County, while six deaths are reported
from Greeley, nine from Wichita and three
from Scott County. Many new counties
are located seventy-five and one hundred
and fifty miles from telegraph COM
munica ton. and details come in slowly.
Citizens of this city held public meeting
last night to raise funds and provisions
for settlers, and the sufferers will be prop
erly taken care of.